Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Puree from Once-over Harvested Strawberries1

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Abstract
Fruits of ‘Cardinal’ and A-5344 strawberries (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) were once-over harvested and sorted into 5 maturity categories: immature green, mature green, inception, firm ripe, and processing ripe. Purees of each maturity were characterized for their potential contribution to the quality of puree obtained from a once-over strawberry harvest. As the berry matured, weight, percent soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and water-soluble pectins increased. Total solids, acidity, total phenols, puree viscosity, cellulose, protopectin, peroxidase activity (PO), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity decreased with increasing fruit maturity. Presence of chlorophyll, lack of anthocyanins, higher total phenols, and PO and PPO activity found in the green fruits could be potentially detrimental to puree quality. Higher puree viscosity which resulted from higher cellulose and protopectin levels and lower water-soluble pectins in the green berries would be beneficial to strawberry puree quality.

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